The Fantasy Guide can be picked up online (pdf) for $9.99 – it comes with an updated spreadsheet. Updates are all free, download as often as you’d like. Last update was Sept. 17.

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Tim Thomas going to Florida is a huge break for Thomas owners. The one in my league was buckling under for trading him for Brodeur and a third-rounder (in a full keeper, the draft only has four rounds). But then the Florida news hit and he won’t do it for a second rounder now. I think Florida has a good team with a bright future and they’ll be in the playoff hunt. Thomas in the fold puts them in the playoffs. I made the updates in the fantasy guide already, but if you didn’t buy it (you’ll lose) I’ll tell what you have – I have Thomas signing with the team and starting 51 games to Markstrom’s 31. But at the same time, I have Clemmensen playing five games. Markstrom can still go to the minors without clearing waivers (one more year of that), so he would go back down for a couple of months. But I think as Clemmensen battles injury and weak play, Markstrom will start getting called up to fill in and will be the full-time backup by Christmas.

I have the sneaking suspicion that a Thomas deal would be for two years, meaning Markstrom will be a backup for a year and a half. Hopefully that’s enough time to develop him into that future star we hope he will be.

More on Thomas – The Hockey Writers on why he is the perfect fit.

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Notable Cuts:

Henrik Samuelsson – Phoenix. I had him making the team this year, but also noted that I was 55% confident of this (for those who don’t buy the Guide (you’ll lose), I not only list the prospects who could make the team, but I list their odds of making it. And when they are cut I instantly make the change in the Guide and upload it so you’ll always have that info).

Travis Oleksuk – San Jose.

Jerry D’Amigo, Brad Ross, Greg ‘with a leg for an arm and an arm for’ McKegg

Tampa Bay, Pittsburgh, San Jose, Toronto and Chicago all made a lot of cuts, but no other names really stood out. 

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Rich Peverley is back in practice for the Stars. He underwent a procedure last week to correct an irregular heartbeat.

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The sixth and 24th people to Tweet how much they’re looking forward to playing the new Dobbernomics.com #FantasyHockey game gets invited to my personal league. I’ll be looking for the terms “Dobbernomics.com” and “#FantasyHockey”. I chose “6” and “24” because cases of beer are sold in those sizes (hey – we all have a system!). But I was disappointed when, on Monday, only 17 people Tweeted it. So I just gave it to the 17th person. Hopefully more people are on board this time around. I have a league to fill!

Thanks for helping me spread the word! Maybe some think it will require a time commitment. Or it’s too complicated. But I guarantee you this – it’s not complicated and you don’t have to play every day. And it’s quite possibly the most enjoyable fantasy-hockey game that I’ve ever played. Take a look here.

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Frozen Pool now has all the preseason data. Take a look around, you can get line combos for preseason games, stats, etc. All you need to help give you an edge for your draft.

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Martin Brodeur will be the opening night starter for the Devils, per Rich Chere.

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Here’s a great entry in our Black Aces program – some prospect dark horses to consider for the long term in your keeper leagues.

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My THN column yesterday investigates training camp battles in the Western Conference.

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In exhibition action last night, it was Marcus Foligno vs. Nick Foligno. Marcus won, with two goals and the victory. He has the higher upside of the two, offensively.

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Of note in the Rangers/Flyers game, Derick Brassard picked up two points and could be an early dark horse if Derek Stepan doesn’t sign quickly. A few games without Stepan and perhaps Brassard steals his spot. Stepan owners should start to worry, because Brassard is capable of endearing himself as a top sixer. If he solidifies the job to the point where Stepan can’t knock him out of there, then the season-long impact will be huge. If Brassard plays with Rick Nash and clicks, why would the coach break that up? So then Stepan plays with…Pyatt? Yeah, big difference.

Benoit Pouliot scored for the Rangers and was the second star. He has to make his mark before Callahan and Hagelin come back.

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Does Steve Mason giving up three goals on 23 shots worry Flyers fans? Still too early? Yeah, I guess. It’s still going to be Emery, probably by December.

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Get my new app (free) and have these ramblings stream to your phone. Details here. There is still the odd device that crashes this app, but let me know and we fix on a case by case basis. By the weekend, we figure all devices will run this app smoothly. So many different devices out there…

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Line combos for the Red Wings last night:

Bertuzzi – Weiss – Alfredsson

Nyquist – Sheahan – Jurco

Miller – Emmerton – Eaves

With Athanasiou and Mitch Callahan in there as well. Pulkkinen got the gate for taking out Mike Kostka, who will be re-evaluated tomorrow.

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Mike Yeo on Nino Niederreiter last night: "probably our best forward tonight. I liked that he was making plays and I like that he was going to the net, but some guys go to the net and then vacate quickly and he has a presence in front of the net."

Jason Zucker left the game early when he tweaked his groin.

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Matt Frattin made a huge impression with his new team, with three points. That guy always makes a splash. Either when he’s first called up, or returns from injury, or returns from a healthy scratch. Or – right after he’s traded. That’s when Frattin is a star. But it’s the other games, the ones we call “normal”, that he needs to work on. I can see a strong first two weeks out of him when the season begins. Last night he saw time with Carter and Richards.

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Philip Larsen makes a case to stay in the Edmonton lineup. He scored once and added an assist.

 Linus Omark also had an assist, making up for a weak first game.

And the other guy I’m watching, Richard Bachman, got the start. Bachman stopped 26 of 29. So far he’s doing nothing to lead the Oilers to believe that he’s ahead of LaBarbera in talent. That’s too bad. In Dallas, he was always clutch. If he had one chance, he took it. If he had a shot at knocking out the backup (Andrew Raycroft) he took it and was successful.

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The star of that game, incidentally, was Michael Frolik who scored a beauty goal to kick things off.

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Cody Bass vs. Jake Dowell – great tilt:

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